GREEKS LIVING IN ARMENIA ROAST GOATLING FOR EASTER
12:45, 26 March, 2013
YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian-Greek fraternal relations
have age old history. The small Greek community of Armenia occupies
its unique place in the life of the national minorities in Armenia.
The “Armenpress” reporter had a conversation with the Chairman of
“Illios” Greek Community NGO Slavik Raphayelidis.
– Mr. Raphayelidis, how many Greeks currently live in Armenia?
– The Greek community in Armenia counts 1200 people. The Greeks mainly
live in Alaverdi, Stepanavan, Vanadzor, Gyumri, Yerevan, and Meymana
village in Artsakh. I was there during the Constitution endorsement,
where I was invited as an observer.
– I would like to about the inside life of the community. What
occupations, feasts, and Memorial Day do you have?
– The Greeks have been living in Armenia for over 350 years. Their main
occupation was mining, they came here for the exploitation of mines
in Alaverdi. They taught the natives the peculiarities of mining. We
have our national holiday, which is celebrated on March 25.
On that day we grandiosely celebrate the liberation of Greece from the
Turkish yoke. Notwithstanding the most favorite feast for the Greeks
is Easter. The main dish for the Easter is roasted goatling. Each
year on May 15 we mark the day of commemoration of the Pontic Greeks
Genocide victims, when over 500,000 Greeks were massacred. We also
pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims on April 24.
– Are there specialties, which are characteristic for the community
members?
– There are no specialties, which are characteristic for the Greeks.
There are Greek lecturers, doctors, engineers, scientists, and other
Greek specialists living in Armenia. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW
IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN) Interview by Hakob Vardanyan